Improvement in hand-stamps



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE.

LOUIS LEHMAN, OF BUFFALO, ASnSIGNOR TO DANIEL IV. FISH, OF

' BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

||v|PRovEMENT IN HAND-STAMPS.

I, LoUIs LEHMAN, ofthe city of Buiialo, in the county of Erie, assignor to DANIEL W. FIsH, of the city of Brooklyn, New York, have invented certain Improvements in Self-Rotating Vheel Canceling-Stamps, of which the followin g is a specification:

This invention relates to that class of handstamps in which a series of wheels are arranged in the die-block or stamp-head, and provided at their peripheries with certain characters, which, by the adjustment of the wheels, can be so arranged as to cause the instrument, when operated, to impress upon the stamp or other material, in connection with the unchangeable matter of the die, the particular date at which the impression is made.

The invention consists, rst, in the co1nbination, with each of such date-wheels, ot a coiled spring, arranged therein for rotating the respective wheels, and a spring-lever stop and escapement, arranged outside, which engages with teeth on the edges of said wheels, whereby the adjustment of any of the wheels is eii'ected by simply pressing on the escape- Inent-lever, which releases the wheel and permits it to rotate one degree for each time the lever is depressed; second, in the construction and arrangement of the springs and levers which they actuate, wit-h a fulcrum-pin and bearing-piece of the frame, against which the ends of the springs press; third, in the combination and arrangement of the dating-wheels and escapcment-levers in the saine reciprocating frame, so that they may maintain their relative positions in the manipulation oi' the instrument.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure I is a perspective view of my improved stamp. Fig. II is an elevation of the die-block and datewheels. Fig. III is a sectional elevation thereof. Fig. IV is a bottom plan view. Fig. V is an end elevation. Fig. VI is a detached View of month-wheel; Fig. VII, a detached view of day-wheel. Fig. VIII is a vertical section of the instrument. Fig. IX is a view,'showing the enlargement of theslot in one ofthe standards of the frame. Like letters of reference designate like parts in each of the gures. l

A is the base, to which the stationary frame B is fastened by means of an outwardly-projecting an-ge, b. The frame B consists of two standards, provided with vertical slots, c, in which the journals of the stamp or type-bed slide as it is half-rotated to bring it in contact with the ink-cushion above.

D is the top plate or portion of the frame, east or formed with Aa recess in the under side, of the size and shape of the die, in which is arranged the perforated diaphragm d, leaving a space, d', above, which forms the ink well or reservoir. c is a hole, closed by a screw-plug, e', through which the ink is introduced into the reservoir. F is the ink-cushion, arranged below the diaphragm. and in contact therewith.

G is a shank, which extends vertically upward from the center of the plate, and forms a guide for the yoke H, which consists of a hollow shank or sleeve, lb, and branches or legs 7L h. The sleeve iits and slides up and down on the guide G, while the legs ext-end .downward along the outside of the standards 15. The stamp-head or die-block I is arranged between these standards, and is secured within the yoke H by means of screws fl, as will presently be described.

J is the knob or handle, the shank of which is made hollow, and is fitted and secured on the end of the sleeve h in any suitable manner. Within the handle and sleeve, above the end of the shank G, is arranged a spiral spring, K, which is compressed as the yoke is forced down in making an impression, the recoil ot' which operates to elevate the yoke and reverse.

the die, for inking the same after such impression.

O is a stop, consisting' of a screw, which passes through the sleeve and in a hole or against the shank, to lock the yoke in place while adjusting or changing the type or die, or for any other required purpose.

The die-block I at one end is secured to the leg of the yoke by the screw and journal z', which passes from the end of the leg through a plain uniform slot in the standard B and screws into the end of the bed. At the opposite end the bed is formed with an extensionoiI'set, i2, oblong in cross-section, which projects through the slot in the other standard, iiush with the outside, so as to abut against the leg ot' the yoke, to which it is connected by the screw t", which passes through the leg and screws directly into the end thereof. The thickness of this guide-extension t2 is equal to the width of the slot in which it is designed to slide, while its width, the plane of which is at right angles to that of the bed itself, is considerably greater, as most clearly represented in Figs. II, III, and IX. One side of the slot, at its center, is enlarged, as shown at c', Fig. IX, to allow sufficient space for the guide t2 to turn in as the stamp or type-bed is revolved. The opposite standard, at a'point corresponding to the enlargement of the slot in the other, is provided with two pins, b b, placed one above the other, a short distance apart, as shown in the drawing. The type-bed at this end is formed with a tooth, t3, projecting from the back, which engages w-ith the pins b b, and assists to rotate the same, as will be presently explained.

The parts being constructed and put together as hereinbefore described, the stamphead, when at rest, will be inverted, and the die pressed by the action of the spiral spring r against the ink-cushion above. An impression is made by striking a blow on the knob or handle in the ordinary manner, which causes the die-block to be forced down between the slotted standards, the slot and oblong guide retaining the same in a hori- Zonta-l position until the block at the base of the tooth t3 strikes the upper pin, b, which, being eccentrically arranged, operates as a rack, with the die-block as a. segment, which is partially rotated, as shown in Iiio. VIII, when, as it leaves the pins, the cam, as it passes' out of the enlargement c of the' slot, strikes against the lower termination thereof, as shown in Fig. IX, thereby completing a half-revolution of the die-block, and bringing it into a proper horizontal position for making an impression.

The impression being made, the reaction ofthe spring K elevates the stamp-head, while the mechanism above described invcrts the same by a reverse movement, bringing the face of the die again in contact with the ink'- cushion.

The hereinbeforedescribed mechanism and mode of operating the stamp I do not claim, it having been shown and described in a previous application made by me, although this construction of stamp is the one I prefer to employ, with the following-described improvements.

The stamp-head I is formed with two arms or standards, m on, at each end, between which the date-wheels are mounted. N N1 N2 are these wheels, all mounted loosely on the same stationary shaft p, which is immovably secured in the two standards m., in any suitable llllllllOl. Y

In the drawing this shaft is shown hollow, with a bolt, p3, passing through it and the arms m wz, to secure it in place, while a segmental lange, 191, at one end, with its straight edge resting on a shoulder of the bearing, prevents it from turning. Each of these wheels is recessed at the center on one side, so as to receive a spring, q, coiled around the shaft p, to the inner end of which it is fastened by engaging with a pin, p2, projecting therefrom, while the outer end presses against a concentric flange, n, of the wheels. The central wheel is also formed with an outwardly-projectin g flange, al, on each side, over which fit the rims or flanges u2 of the outer wheels.

This construction connects the wheels irmly together, so that in making an impression with the stamp they operate as one solid wheel, although each is capable of free rotation independent ofthe others, when required in adjusting it. These wheels are arranged so that a portion of the periphery of each will be exposed through a slot, a, formed in the die. These wheels, when used as date-wheels for canceling-stamps, have the days, months, and years engraved, respectively, on their pe ripheries, in the ordinary manner of datingwheels, the pins n3 indicating the position of the iigures or letters. The edge of each wheel is also provided with teeth u, to correspond with the days, months, and years engraved thereon.

In the drawing, N represents the monthwheel, N1 the day, and N2 the year wheel. It are the lever stops or escapements, mounted on a common fulcrum-pin, s, connecting the standards m near their upper ends. Each ot' these levers is provided withtwo pallets, 1' o, and vwith a spring, r2, attached at one end to the upper edge, with the other end pressing against the under side of the cross-piece t, which connects the top ot' the arms m m, and which is secured in place by the fulcrum-pin passing through pendent ears t t', as shown in the drawing. This spring and lever are arranged so that the spring will press the pallet f" against the ratchets 114, and lock the wheel in place.

To adjust either of the wheels, the pallet i' of the appropriate lever is disengaged by pressing on the opposite end, which leaves the wheel free to rotate, in obedience to the action of the coiled spring within, till it is'ar rested by the pallet r1, which permits it to move through the angular space of only one tooth for each depression of the lever, the spring r2 bringing the pallet r again in engagement with the wheel the moment the pressure is removed from the opposite end of the lever. This selfrotation 'of the wheels enables them to be adjusted to any combination with the greatest ease and facility. They are wound up by rotating them in an opposite direction by any suitable means.

That I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with the dating wheel or wheels N, of the coiled spring q and spring stop and eseapement R, substantially as and dating-Wheels N Nl N2 and eseapement-levers for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. R in the common reciprocating frame I on,

2. The stop and escapement levers R and substantially as hereinbefore described. springs r2, arranged with fuloruln-pn s and LOUIS LEHMAN. cross bearing-bar t, substantially as for the Witnesses: purpose hereinbefore set forth. J AY HYATT,

3. The combination and arrangement of the l JNO. J. BONNER. 

